Milling oak for floor boards: advice

[Daniël Bos]

If your going to screw them down have a look for tounge tight screws I think there called. Not used them myself but have heard good reviews

 

I've used them with great results, "secret screwing" reclaimed pine boards. These were very prone to splitting but all went perfect with these. And they're removable if needed

 

Got mine from screwfix, none of my local builders/fixing specialist had half a clue what I was on about.

[muttley9050]

Never attempted secret screwing, but guess its an option. How did you find it, guess you have to keep angle pretty shallow to ensure the head is lost? My boards will never need removng as room is above cellar with full access to joist space.

Tahnks for your input.

James

[Daniël Bos]

I found them really easy to use. Put them at about 45 degrees, so no tension was lost when taking off the clamp (I use a scissor jack with a battery drill on it).

I think there may have been a slight advantage using pine over oak as even when the head was slightly proud or the tongue split a little, the next board could still be pressed on tight as there's probably a bit more give in pine?

But then I reckon oak should be less prone to splitting so it should work just as well.

I'd definitely recommended them, easy and quick (and I don't have a nail gun)

[Guss109]

If you pilot them first it should stop the tounge splitting. Might be worth buying a box and having a play with them if I remember right the last section by the head is a reverse thread to pull every thing together tight

[muttley9050]

thx, these boards wont have tongues as self milled, could groove them and fit loose tongues, but biscuits look like the way forward, make them slightly harder to secret screw, will have an experiment on some scrap. Thx

James

[flames]

Hi James (muttley9050), I embarked on the project you are now planning about 3 years ago, just finished my floor before Christmas (see the beerkan mill thread). Some really good advice above. From my own experience; I used screwfix tongue tight screws, they’re great, had no probs. with the tongues spitting. I also T & G’d all my boards including the ends, although extra work, it means that if the boards shrink/swell any gaps don’t notice so much, adding a small chaffer around the edge also helps hide any height mismatch. Good luck with your project!

[muttley9050]

Thanks Flames.

Think i decided to invest in some t+g cutters for me router table and do it properly. Just need to mod me table to take me bigger router.

Thanks for advice, tree being felled 23rd feb and Lucas mill booked in for 15th march.

Will take some pics and keep you all posted.

James